Yogyakarta's Malam 1 Suro: Rare Wayang Gedhog Performance to Open Mubeng Beteng Tradition

The celebration of Malam 1 Suro, or the Javanese New Year Be 1960, in Yogyakarta this year will present a different atmosphere. The Lampah Budaya Mubeng Beteng tradition, routinely held every Malam 1 Suro, will be preceded by a Wayang Kulit Gedhog performance, a rare art form now seldom staged in Yogyakarta. The series of events will take place on Tuesday night (16/6/2026) until the early hours of Wednesday (17/6/2026). Before participants walk around the Keraton Yogyakarta’s fortifications in a silent and solemn atmosphere, the public will be treated to a Pagelaran Ringgit Wacucal Gedhog featuring the story Jaya Berdangga. The performance, presented by the Kawedanan Kridhamardawa of Keraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat, will be held at Bangsal Kamandungan Kidul from 19.00 to 23.00 WIB, with puppeteer MB. Cermo Wignyoutomo. “Usually, to welcome the Javanese New Year, the Paguyuban Abdi Dalem organises the Hajad Kawula Dalem Mubeng Beteng. This year, we from Kawedanan Kridhamardawa are also participating in the celebration by presenting a wayang kulit gedhog performance before the lampah budaya mubeng beteng procession,” said MB. Cermo Gupito, an Abdi Dalem Dalang of Kawedanan Kridhamardawa tasked as the production leader for the performance, in a statement on Sunday (14/6/2026). Cermo Gupito stated that the wayang performance serves as a provision for reflection for the community before undertaking the spiritual practice of Malam 1 Suro through Mubeng Beteng. Wayang Gedhog itself is one of the rare asset collections belonging to Keraton Yogyakarta, which tells stories from the Panji cycle, differing from the more widely known wayang purwa that features the Mahabharata and Ramayana epics. Through the Javanese New Year momentum, the Keraton hopes this art form will become known again and preserved within the community. “The public can interpret the wayang performance as a means of seeking ‘sangu’ for self-introspection, because of course, within the wayang story presentation, many life philosophies are contained,” he said. After the wayang performance, the public can join the Hajad Kawula Dalem Lampah Budaya Mubeng Beteng, which will begin at 00.00 WIB from Bangsal Pancaniti Keraton Yogyakarta.